Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[kittyl]

I'm not sure what to do about these chicks. I've been very laid back about with the chicks this year

I have 2 broodies hatched 3 chicks each, after about 10days I let them gradually free range in the garden

with the others & they've been fine, even the cockerel happily accepted them. Now Nettle, the pekin mum

has started laying again which leaves her chicks alone during this time, our cockerel watches over them so

I feel they're safe, but Nettle is obviously no longer caring for them very well. The other 3 are still often

seen tucked into their mum's feathers for warmth whereas Nettles chicks are more & more often on their

own. She still sleeps with them at night so I'm reluctant to bring them indoors, the question is are they ok

to be without her warmth during most of the day at only 4 1/2 weeks old? - they are about 3/4 feathered

now.Unfortunately, due to circumstances when they hatched they've not been handled & are not very

tame, so catching them regularly would be difficult!

[kittyl]

I was relieved to see Nettle letting her chicks snuggle under her wings this am - even though they barely

fit now! So I'm happy that she is still caring for them, especially in the cold weather we have atm!

[L Marques]

Hi Kitty,so you have heard about my chicks,i am not giving hope yet,there is surely got to be a girl in there.

I was thinking the same about my chicks,Angie is not laying yet and is still very much looking after her babies,they are also 4 weeks now,when she no longer wants them will they be OK in there with her?what i mean is,she wont harm them will she?

My broody Sheela has got babys today i can hear them but not seen them yet.

I love my chickens!

[miller30]

I have left pekins with there mums for about 3 months if ive run out of space and never had any probs if you want post some more pics of your pekin babies head shots side on and I will take another look but they do look like boys if it makes you feel any better I hatched 6 chicks out a couple of years ago all 6 cockbirds so I know how you feel leanne

[kittyl]

I've hatched twice before, once with a Pekin bantam, she was a wonderful mum & stayed with her

babies until they were fully grown. The second time with my brahma bantam, she got fed up with

the chicks at about 6 weeks & started to chase them away then went back to roost with the other

hens, so the chicks had to come indoors with a heater at night. If Angie decides she's had enough

you'll know, but hopefully that wont happen!

[Saronne]

I had a broody hatch some eggs a couple of years ago and she stopped looking after them when they were about 6 weeks. They seemed to integrate okay with the rest of the flock and were not picked on by any of my other hens.

[kittyl]

Well its happened! Beany suddenly turned this evening. Up to now she's been a great mum, really

protective & letting them snuggle in any time, but last night she tried to sleep back in the coop,

I put her back with the chicks that time but tonight she started having a go at them & they ran

away & hid under a tree! I've set up a cage in my conservatory with an electric hen - that I was

hoping I wouldn't have to use - they can sleep there till they're a bit bigger, the nights are still

cold, I hope they'll be ok in the day. I have another broody hen I wonder if she'd let them snuggle up.